Horseshoe Bend Revisit | Nov. 4-8, 2021

Horseshoe Bend has become internationally renowned as one of the premier desert canyon overlooks drawing crowds from all over the globe.  While this area was once a locally known, relatively obscure location, spikes in social media use over the last decade have brought it to the forefront of many itineraries for those visiting the southwest.  This growing visitation has led to hardening and rerouting the trail, expanding and paving the parking lot, installing safe-viewing infrastructure on the canyon rim, and a fee booth at the parking lot entrance.  We are hoping to address litter, cumulative impacts to fragile desert ecosystems, and building up an effective communication strategy around this coveted landscape. For the Hot Spot activation, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Team will be at Horseshoe Bend leading a variety of workshops, outreach programs and community events, including opportunities for community involvement.

*Horseshoe Bend is located on the ancestral lands of the Mvskoke (Muscogee/Creek) and possibly other tribes*

Solutions

During the Hot Spot activation, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Team led a variety of workshops, outreach programs and community events at Horseshoe Bend. This included an outreach table hosted by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Subaru/Leave No Trace staff in front of the Glen Canyon Conservancy Flagship Store.